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Kobe Walking Tour: Personalized Local Experience
4.7
69 Ratings
Kobe
Embark on a private tour of Kobe with a local guide to explore its highlights, hidden gems, and indulge in authentic cuisine. Discover the city’s nature, shopping streets, historic sites, and panoramic views.
Embark on a private tour of Kobe with a local guide to explore its highlights, hidden gems, and indulge in authentic cuisine. Discover the city’s nature, shopping streets, historic sites, and panoramic views.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Kobe - Experience Kobe through the perspective of a local, uncovering the city’s contrasts, character, and daily rhythm with a knowledgeable host. Before starting, complete a brief online questionnaire to tailor a route to your interests, whether they include culture, cuisine, architecture, or hidden treasures. Here are some highlights to inspire…
- Kobe - Experience Kobe through the perspective of a local, uncovering the city’s contrasts, character, and daily rhythm with a knowledgeable host. Before starting, complete a brief online questionnaire to tailor a route to your interests, whether they include culture, cuisine, architecture, or hidden treasures. Here are some highlights to inspire your adventure:
- Ikuta Shrine Earthquake Recovery Monument - Start at one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines, quietly situated in the city’s heart. Your host will narrate its founding story and guide you to nearby paths and sacred spaces that offer tranquility within Kobe’s urban center.
- Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street - Wander through this covered arcade filled with shops, snack stalls, and retro storefronts. Your host will point out local favorites, family-run businesses, and unique finds that blend the area’s nostalgic charm with modern Kobe culture.
- Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi - Discover Kobe’s compact yet lively Chinatown, where vibrant streets and enticing aromas guide your way. With your host, explore hidden alleyways, regional delicacies, and cultural stories not found on the main tourist path.
- Kobe Harborland - Stroll along the bustling waterfront promenade, featuring stylish cafés, public art, and stunning bay views. Your host will explain the area’s evolution and highlight lesser-known spots where locals unwind, shop, and enjoy the scenery.
- Meriken Park - Conclude your experience in this open-air park by the harbor, where sculptures and green spaces provide a serene end to your walk. Reflect on the day’s discoveries with views of the water and insights into Kobe’s identity as a resilient port city.
What's Included
- 3, 4, 6 or 8 hours walking tour, exploring highlights and hidden gems
- Hotel meet-up available on request for central locations (must be organized after booking)
- Private and personalized walking tour with a passionate local
- 3, 4, 6 or 8 hours walking tour, exploring highlights and hidden gems
- Hotel meet-up available on request for central locations (must be organized after booking)
- Private and personalized walking tour with a passionate local
What's Not Included
- Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- Gratuities (optional)
- Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information
This is not a pre-planned sightseeing tour. The host will customize the day based on your preferences, whether you enjoy waterfront walks, lively markets, serene shrines, or tranquil alleyways. Each moment is crafted to suit your pace and interests.
Once booked, a brief questionnaire will be sent to pair you with a compatible host. They will contact you…
This is not a pre-planned sightseeing tour. The host will customize the day based on your preferences, whether you enjoy waterfront walks, lively markets, serene shrines, or tranquil alleyways. Each moment is crafted to suit your pace and interests.
Once booked, a brief questionnaire will be sent to pair you with a compatible host. They will contact you to propose an itinerary and arrange a meeting location. The schedule is adaptable, allowing time to stop, meander, and discover the authentic Kobe.
- This is a private City Unscripted experience: real people, real connections
- After booking, you’ll receive a short online questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your City Unscripted guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
- This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis may be used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
Location
Kobe Tourist Information Center
This is a great central point to meet your host if your hotel is not listed.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(69 Ratings)
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Trek05450368057
Jul 7, 2025
Lovely tour with great guide. - Had lovely tour today with Silva.
Silva met us at the designated meeting place at the arranged time. He was a very pleasant man with excellent English. He brought us to the Nunobiki Herb Gardens which we accessed by riding the Rope Way (cable car). This was a very pleasant experience although it is tough going for people with walking difficulties. Next we visited the Ikuta Shrine, a small but pretty Shinto Shrine. We then had a traditional Japanese lunch at a local. Silva went to great lengths to ensure that gluten free was provided for my wife who is gluten intolerant. After this we visited Chinatown followed by some local shopping.
Despite the weather being very hot our tour was a delightful experience. Silva was an excellent guide who brought us around at our own pace and provided us with a great local knowledge of Kobe.
Thank you Silva.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dianekt7381tv
May 24, 2025
Storms and a beautiful experience. - Silver did an amazing job of showing us the perfect day, even though it started out with a horrible rain storm. Our favorite part of the day was the herb gardens which by the time we got there the rain had stopped. We had a wonderful leisurely experience there with no crowds. We had a great lunch at his favorite local restaurant and he made my sister very happy by finding her a family store that specialized in homemade rice crackers. Her suitcase home was filled with them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juli_b
May 15, 2025
Anjelica the Great Kobe Adventurer - Anjelica was amazing! She is culturally knowledgeable, speaks incredible English and has a great sense of humor. We learned more from her customized tour than the prior 5 tours we took. What a great experience!! Thank you Anjelica!!!
Review provided by Viator
Bev
Apr 4, 2025
Osaka in a day with Ryan was amazing - Our guide Ryan was brilliant. A totally bespoke tour, totally based around our personal preferences.
He was easy to talk to, gave us insight into not just the city but a little about his life in the city and the whole day just felt like a really fun day out.
Ryan was very personable and you felt like you'd known him for ages.
Thank you - it made our day really memorable in Osaka.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danny_r
Mar 30, 2025
Kobe synagogue visit - Rio, our guide was fabulous. He speaks perfect English. He lived in Ann Arbor MI for 9 years until he was 18. He picked us up at port and we went by local transportation. We saw some cool Kobe sights but best of all was Katani and synagogue where we spent about an hour with the rabbi and some. Congregants. A real rush while in Japan. Thanks Rio !⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review provided by Viator
Tom
Mar 19, 2025
Feeling like a local - Rio was great even though he said that I was his first tour it certainly didn’t seem like it. Rio had a wealth of knowledge and I felt like a “local “ walking the streets of Kobe with Rio. I even learned a little Japanese along the way. I highly recommend Rio for anyone seeking to learn more about Kobe and to find hidden treasures of the city
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roz
Mar 19, 2025
There was confusion as to... - There was confusion as to who was giving the tour - Taiga with whom I had been communicating via email prior to starting the trip to Japan or Ryan who became our guide as of the day before the tour. I had asked for a meet at the ship pier and wires crossed -we went to meet Ryan per his request and he, unbeknownst to us, went to the the ship. Eventually we got together and had a fabulous tour! Ryan was flexible, and personable and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him.
Review provided by Viator
A3299bejohnw
Feb 10, 2025
Local experience - Ask for the local experience. We skipped this history and temples since we’ve done so many this trip. Angelica took us to ma and pa shop to eat. We did the Photo Booth experience that girls like to do here. We ended the tour with a Kobe beef experience, pricey but very good and we were expecting it wasn’t going to be cheap.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Audirs5guy
Jan 18, 2025
Taiga was great! - Taiga was a great local tour guide and a great guy to spend time with! Would definitely recommend him and do it again next time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hoosiergirl748
Sep 3, 2024
Guide Cancelled and No Replacement Found - Tour was cancelled 3 days before we were scheduled and no replacement guide could be found. They did, however, quickly refund my money. Would not use them again given the short notice cancellation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
